Chapter 16: Attack, Attack and Attack.

"When you have the chance to crush an enemy, do it completely. Do not leave any room for retaliation or recovery. A half-crushed enemy will always seek revenge; it is only when they are utterly destroyed that they cannot harm you," Kraner said with a sense of peace, opening his mind from his meditative state.

Kraner leaned back in his chair, tapping a pen idly against the edge of the wood as he stared at the holographic display hovering before him. His IIS. That damn little screen that had once mocked him with its emptiness now glowed proudly, displaying something he never thought he'd see in this lifetime—his name.

KRANER

Not "slave." Not "boy." Not some faceless nobody scrubbing floors or fetching coffee for people who barely acknowledged his existence. Just... Kraner. Plain and simple. Like it should've been all along. He smirked, running a finger over the glowing letters as if they might vanish if he touched them too hard. But no, they stayed there, solid and real. A testament to everything he'd clawed his way toward.

And oh, how sweet it felt.

He could still hear the whispers in the halls when he passed by—the maids nudging each other, the butlers straightening their ties just a little tighter whenever he walked into a room. They didn't call him "slave" anymore. Hell, most of them didn't even dare say his name without adding a respectful "sir" at the end. It was almost funny, really. Almost.

But Kraner wasn't laughing—not on the outside, anyway. Inside, though? Oh, he was cackling like a madman. Because this wasn't just about respect. This wasn't just about climbing the ladder from dirt to diamonds. No, this was bigger than that. This was control. Pure, unadulterated power wrapped up in a shiny bow called "prestige." And he fucking loved it.

The rumors were spreading faster than wildfire now. Everyone knew about Lady Tanya's sudden change of heart toward her husband. The drunk lord who used to stumble around the mansion like a ghost had somehow found his footing again. People whispered about late-night conversations in the library, quiet laughter echoing down empty corridors. Some even dared to suggest romance—a second chance at love after years of cold silence.

Kraner smiled faintly at that, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the desk. Of course, none of them knew the truth. None of them realized that every word Lord Ruxnard spoke these days was carefully crafted poison poured directly into his ear. It was beautiful, really, like a pair of flowers he was growing with his toxins. He was planning to let them flourish, more so that they would eventually embody being a true couple.

'...a loving couple,' he said, a smirk of mischief etched on his face.

A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in," he called, sitting up straighter as the door creaked open.

It was Perl. Of course it was Perl. She always seemed to show up when he least expected—or maybe exactly when he needed her to. Her golden skirt swished softly as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her with a quiet click. There was something different about her today. Something softer, less guarded. Like the armor she wore so well had finally started to crack under the weight of whatever battle she'd been fighting inside herself.

"You look pleased," she said, arching an eyebrow as she crossed the room to stand beside his desk. Her sharp blue eyes flicked briefly to the holographic display before returning to his face. "I take it things are going well?"

"Oh, you could say that," Kraner replied, his voice smooth as silk. He gestured lazily to the glowing screen. "As you can see, I'm officially part of the household now. No more 'slave' nonsense. Just plain old Kraner."

Perl snorted, folding her arms across her chest. "Plain? Hardly. You're anything but plain, boy."

"Boy?" Kraner repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Careful, Perl. If anyone heard you calling me that, they might think you're jealous."

"Jealous?" she shot back, her lips curling into a wry smile. "Of what? Your newfound popularity? Please. I've been running this house longer than you've been alive."

"True," Kraner admitted with a shrug. "But popularity isn't everything. Respect, on the other hand..." He trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air between them.

Perl's jaw tightened ever so slightly, but she didn't argue. Instead, she glanced around the room, taking in the luxurious furnishings and pristine decor. "Nice setup you've got here," she said finally, her tone clipped. "Lady Tanya must really trust you to give you such prime real estate."

"She does," Kraner confirmed, leaning back in his chair once more. "And why wouldn't she? I've done nothing but serve her faithfully since day one."

"Faithfully?" Perl echoed, her voice dripping with skepticism. "Is that what we're calling it now? Funny, I seem to remember you pulling quite a few strings behind the scenes."

Kraner chuckled, unfazed by her jab. "Strings? Me? Come on, Perl. You make me sound like some kind of puppet master."

"Aren't you?" she countered, her gaze piercing.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension between them crackled like static electricity, filling the room with an oppressive weight. Then, slowly, Kraner stood up, rounding the desk until he was standing mere inches away from her.

"What do you want, Perl?" he asked, his voice low and steady. "You didn't come here to trade barbs with me. So spit it out."

Perl hesitated, her usual composure faltering just slightly. When she finally spoke, her words came out quieter than he'd expected.

"Like we arranged, we need to start to move our pieces, but we've got a problem," she admitted.

Kraner raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Like...?"

"It's... complicated," she muttered, avoiding his gaze. "Let's just say I've got a situation on my hands, and I could use someone with your... talents."

Kraner smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Talents, huh? Well, well. Looks like the mighty Head Maid isn't as untouchable as she seems."

"Shut up," Perl snapped, glaring at him. "Are you going to help me or not?"

Kraner tilted his head, studying her carefully. For all her bravado, there was a vulnerability in her eyes that he hadn't seen before. It intrigued him.

"Alright," he said finally, his tone softening just slightly. "Tell me what's going on."

Perl sighed, running a shaky hand through her hair. "It's Jessica."

At the mention of her name, Kraner's smirk widened. "Ah. Should've guessed."

"She's falling apart," Perl continued, her voice tinged with frustration. "Ever since... well, ever since... you, she's been spiraling. And now, she's starting to talk. To anyone who'll listen."

"Talk about what?" Kraner asked, though he already knew the answer.

"You," Perl replied flatly. "She's telling everyone who'll listen about what happened between the two of you. About how you manipulated her, humiliated her..."

"And?" Kraner prompted, raising an eyebrow.

"And," Perl finished, her voice dropping to a whisper, "she's saying you're planning something. Something big. Something dangerous."

Kraner laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Dangerous? Me? Honestly, Perl, you'd think she'd have better material than that."

"This isn't a joke," Perl snapped, her patience wearing thin. "If word gets back to Lady Tanya—or worse, the council—you're done for. We both are."

Kraner sobered instantly, his amusement fading as quickly as it had come. "So what do you propose we do about it?"

"We shut her up," Perl said bluntly. "Permanently."

For a moment, Kraner just stared at her, weighing her words. Then, slowly, he nodded.

"Alright," he said, his voice cold and calculating. "Consider it done."

As Perl turned to leave, Kraner couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement coursing through him. As he knew from bare instincts, she was lying; from the moment she uttered the words that she needed help. Her bullshit was pouring out like a crying river. Well, she had done well actually—she might be considered the best actor, with lies and deceit hidden so perfectly, but that wasn't something humans were masters of. Demons were.

"Perl, Perl... I see you've already started to move your pieces," he said.

.

.

Kraner moved through the halls with the kind of confidence only someone who'd already won could muster. His footsteps were silent against the plush carpet, his mind buzzing with everything he'd pulled off today. Millions in his bank account overnight. Lord Ruxnard bending to his will like a broken twig. Lady Tanya practically glowing at him like he hung the damn moon himself. Yeah, things were going well. Too well, maybe. But fuck it. He wasn't about to second-guess himself now.

He stopped outside Jessica's door, his hand hovering over the handle for half a second before he heard it—the faintest sound of moans leaking through the wood. Not loud enough to wake anyone else, but loud enough for him to catch. A slow smirk spread across his face, sharp as a blade. Of course she'd be doing THIS. What else would she do when left alone with her shame and lust? 

Kraner reached into his pocket, pulling out a hairpin. The lock clicked open easily under his fingers, smooth as butter. He pushed the door open without knocking, stepping inside like he owned the damn place—which, honestly, he kinda did now. And there she was, sprawled on her bed like some cheap romance novel cover come to life. Her blonde hair stuck to her sweaty forehead, her cheeks flushed red, and her uniform—a total mess, like she hadn't even bothered to take it off properly before diving headfirst into whatever twisted fantasy had her writhing around.

But what really caught his eye was the cucumber. Long, thick, and disappearing between her legs like it belonged there. Jesus Christ, she wasn't even trying anymore, was she? She'd gone full-on desperate housemaid, using whatever she could find to fill the void he'd left behind. It was almost funny. Almost.

Instead of saying anything, Kraner crossed the room in three quick strides, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her off the bed. She barely had time to gasp before he slammed her back-first against the wall, pinning her there with his body. Her eyes went wide, shock mixing with something darker—something hungry—as she realized who'd interrupted her little session.

"Missed me?" Kraner murmured, his voice low and dripping with mockery. Before she could answer, he ground his hips into hers, letting her feel exactly how hard he was. Harder than any stupid vegetable ever could be.

"K..Kraner!" Jessica stammered, her breath hitching as he pressed closer. "What are you…"

"Oh, don't stop on my account," he cut her off, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "You looked like you were having fun. Or should I say…" He leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. "…practicing?"

She shivered, biting down on her lip to keep from moaning outright. God, she hated him. Hated how he made her feel. How he turned her insides to mush with just one touch. But hate didn't stop her hips from rolling instinctively, seeking more friction where his cock strained against his pants. She wanted him. Needed him. And they both knew it.

"You've been busy tonight," Kraner continued, his tone conversational despite the way his hands roamed over her body like he owned every inch of her. "Millions in my account thanks to your dear lord Ruxnard. Did you know he listened so well? That pathetic drunk actually followed through."

Jessica blinked, her brain struggling to catch up. "Millions…? What did you do?"

"Nothing illegal," Kraner replied with a shrug, though the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise. "Just gave him a little push in the right direction. Turns out, even losers can be useful if you twist them the right way." He paused, tilting his head as if considering something. "Speaking of which…you've been following orders pretty well lately. Haven't you?"

"I….I haven't done anything!" Jessica protested weakly, her words falling apart as Kraner slipped a hand between her legs, brushing against the cucumber still lodged inside her. She whimpered, her knees buckling slightly as pleasure shot through her like lightning.

"No?" Kraner asked, raising an eyebrow. "Then why does it feel like you're lying to me right now?" He pulled the cucumber out slowly, watching her face contort with need. "Tell me, Jessica. Are you keeping secrets from me?"

"I'm not!" she cried, her voice breaking as he tossed the vegetable aside and replaced it with two fingers instead. "I swear, I haven't…..oh god!!..."

"Good girl," Kraner purred, twisting his fingers deeper. "Because if I found out you weren't playing nice…" He trailed off, leaning in close enough to nip at her earlobe. "Let's just say I wouldn't be happy."

Jessica whimpered again, her nails digging into his shoulders as he worked her faster, harder. She hated herself for it, for how good it felt, how much she craved him, his scent, his body, his touch, but she couldn't stop. Didn't want to stop. Not when he was making her feel like this.

"Now," Kraner said, his voice dropping to a growl as he pressed his thumb against her clit. "About Lord Ruxnard and Lady Tanya, you were serving them, what was there conversation like?"

"I…..ahhh…They were…laughing and holdi..holding..ooohhh!!..hands." Jessica gasped, her hips jerking involuntarily as another wave of pleasure crashed over her. "Please, Kraner, I swear….that's all…"

"okay. Nice job, sweetheart," Kraner interrupted, smirking as he bit down lightly on her neck.

And then he was kissing her, rough and demanding, swallowing her moans as his fingers kept working their magic. She tasted like desperation and sin, and he drank her in like it was the finest wine. For a moment, he forgot about money, power, revenge—all of it. All that mattered was the heat between them, the way her body clung to his like she'd die without him.

When she finally came, it was with his name on her lips, loud enough to echo off the walls. He held her there, trembling and gasping, until the last aftershocks faded away. Only then did he pull back, wiping his hand on her ruined skirt like it was nothing.

"Remember," he said softly, his voice cold despite the fire still burning in his eyes. "Be a good girl, and about the reward you wanted so bad..." he said, watching the fallen cucumber, covered with liquid similar to what was now coming out her wet insides. "you will soon get it, sweetheart."

Jessica nodded weakly, too spent to argue. What she felt just now, was thousands of time better from what she was doing earlier. As Kraner turned to leave, she slumped against the wall, her chest heaving as reality came crashing back down around her. She hated him. Loved him. Feared him. Craved him. And worst of all, she knew she'd do anything he asked.

Because Kraner always got what he wanted. Always.

***

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